A trip abroad turned home

How did a Sudanese-American end up 5,000 miles away from home you may ask? It all started three years ago during the summer of 2014 when I traveled to Europe for the first time.

My trip started out in Paris, France. To say I was excited would the understatement of the century. I had the amazing opportunity to learn about 1920’s literature, read Hemingway’s “Becoming American’s in Paris,” and tour the city. Some of my favorite destinations were The Louvre, Jardin du Luxembourg, and of course, the Tour Eiffel.
To read more about my trip to Paris, click here.

Strasbourg, France felt like a fairytale, literally. I felt like I was in a scene from Beauty and the Beast. This beautiful, picturesque town was influenced by French, American, and German culture, so most natives speak all three languages. I absolutely loved this town! We had a short stay here, but I managed to develop a great relationship with our tour guide and get this sick photo of what was once the tallest building in Europe.

Last but not least, the love of my life, Berlin, Germany. I’ve been living in Berlin for five months now and it has honestly been the most amazing time of my life. Before arriving in Berlin in 2014, I had no prior knowledge of anything German, besides WWll. I wasn’t excited to come here and I definitely never thought I would be living here. The number one thing that sparked my interest was the plethora of history all around me. I’ve always enjoyed history, but I didn’t realize the extent of my passion until visiting the concentration camp Sachsenhausen, the Holocaust memorial, and the museum The Topography of Terror. In addition to the history of Berlin, I was also refreshed by the enormous level of diversity. Personally, I don’t think anyone likes to stick out like a sore thumb, and being a black woman, that frequently happens to me, which is why diversity is so important to me. Lastly, I don’t think I could ever get bored in Berlin. There’s so many activities, so many people, and so many places to see in this gigantic city.

“Aren’t you scared to be all alone?” “What if you don’t find a job?” “Why Berlin, of all places in the world?” These are just a few of the questions I’ve been asked since arriving in Germany. Like I mentioned earlier, there are multiple reasons why I love Berlin and why I chose Berlin as my new home. Why I decided to move is a completely different answer. Yes, I love traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures, but I also live for adventures. If you read my “About” page, you’ll know that I was working the typical 9-5 corporate job back in Minnesota. I found myself in a feeling of complacency that drove me bananas. I was itching for an international change because, at that time, I had spent my whole life in the U.S. At that point in my life, my friend’s lives were moving at a completely different pace than mine, which is fine, I just felt a growing gap between us all. I strive for meaningful relationships in life, and that just wasn’t happening for me. Don’t get me wrong, my friends, family, and boyfriend were amazing, we were just headed in different paths and had different interests. Berlin to me is a new start, a new life, and a new way to pursue the things that make me happy.

I’ve honestly never been this happy in my life and I’m so excited to see what the future holds for me in Berlin!